Grain drying and cooling apparatus



June 3, R924. 1,496,473

P. LITTLE, JR

GRAIN DRYING AND COOLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1921 3 Shes$heet 1 6 [N YEA/7'05 PHIL/P DTTLE, Jiq.

fizme 3 mm, 1,496,473

P. LITTLE, JR I GRAIN DRYING AND COOLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 192i 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

I N VENTOR PHILIP LITTA/EDJW.

June 3, mm 1,496,473 I P. LITTLE, JR

GRAIN DRYING AND COOLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26. 1921 3 Sheggs-Skwat 3 29 [32 as /0 3 /7 7 40 A6 I f /0 \43 [N YEN TOR J6 PHIL/P QTTL JR Patented June 3, 1924..

tree sci-rams means PATENT" crates.

PHILIP LITTLE, JR, on MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or MINNEAPOLIS;

MINNESOTA.

ALSSIGNOR T STRONG-SGQEIIT MINNESOTA, A coRronATIoN 0s GRAIN DRYING AND COOLING APPARATUS.

Application-filedSeptember 25311921. Serial No.- 503,208..

Apparatus; ot'whichrthe following: is; a specification.

In the process ofdrying. grain. in all: types of: grain driers, a great deal of: dust; chaff and: other refuse lllEUtElldfililSfglhBH olf. Some of" this ma teizi all is blown through. 13118,? drying rooms into tl'ieatmosphere', settling onabuildiing and grounds a: large part of it lSTdBiposited inside the drying; rooms and: settles on fioors;. Walls;v etc;, orre-enters the: air streanr to the drying? or: cooling apparatus and is" deposited? on; the. heating coils; thereby greatly redsucingthe' efficiency of theapparatus and contributing to increased fire hazards and to: unsanitary conditions; In. a number of grain. drying apparatuses-rnow in commercial use, the gain isfirsti heated to evaporate the surplus moisture by forcing a current of heated? air through the body of the grain as" it" passes through a drying chamber, and is thereafter cooledby forcing acold'airstream siniilarlythroughr the grain while it passes through a cooling; chamber. In practice in these appa ratuses or machines the greatest? amount of dust or refuse ma.- terial'is given off in the section-generally known as the cooler, and the object ofthis invention is to provide Ineansco operating With the heating and-cooling aircurrent's for drawing off? and collectingthis material and: at" the same" time gathering the dust givenoff from/ the heating and;- discharge chambers and conducting; it to a. suitable dust" collecting apparatus: from whence it may be removed in containers or' spouted to any desirediplace;

The invention consists generally in various constructions and"v combinations; all as' heree inaiftjer described and? particularly" pointed out in theclaims:

In; the accompanying drawings forming a part of this=specificationgi I Figure 1 is a vertical} sectional view through; a dryingroom showing an appa.

ra-tusror machine in elevation embodyihgfmy invention,

Figure: 2 1s a vertical sectional-view on the lii1e 2-2 of- Figure 1;

gure 3 isa horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1',

Figures 4? and 5 are similarsections on the lines 4-4 and 55 respectively of Figure-1,

Figure 6 is a detail section, showingthe separated a-ir-chambersof a drierand cooler. Inst-he drawings 10, 10 represent the side walls, 11, 1 1,. the end wallsand. 12V the floor of the building or structure: in which; the

apparatus is located. As here shown". the mechamsm is principally supported upon the floor 12. A trans-versevertical Wall; 13- is also-shown arranged to separate the build into twosections, one section ing; structure comprising the rooms 14 and 14 which contain the drying: andair circulating devices and the other section comprising'an upper drying; room 15 and lower? coolingrro'om 1:5, and containing thexgrain drying and cooling; apparatus.

The drier 16 and cooler 18 consist prefer ably and essentially of an upright casing shown of rectangular: form in. crossisection and. arranged in the roomsjlfi and 15 The lower end" of' this casing preferably extends through the floor 12; and is provided? with a hopper" 485 and: an; outlet spout 50,. and the upper portion offthe casing is preferably open.- and is arranged? beneath ahopper' to which grain maybesupplied through a pipe 25. This hopper is locatedpreterably in the upper: part of the building structure and; the casing: is-a-rranged below the hopper soyasstoireceive grainthere'froin as illustrated in Figure? 6; Vertical. transverse partitions 24; extend across the upright casingueaching nearly to the upper and lower: ends" thereof, the spacebetween these partitions and the endlivallsof the casingiheing closed. at the upper" and lower ends of the Walls 24 and beingadivided into; two interior air chambers by? the transverse partition; 31. These air chambers are. preferably located. (-Ei'gure'G) substantially in. the" center; of the casing whereby a vertical grain; passage 19- is formed. between eacln of the partitions 24 and the opposing Wall of the easingWhereby grain enteringsthe; upper part. or the" casing passes?" downward through the passages: 19 into'theho pier at'the bottom of the casing. A rseri'es ot' orizontal ducts 22 and23v extend across-the" grain passages preferably in a horizontal direction. from-the? partition: 24s-to theouter walls of the casing; These-ducts and are preferably composed of perforated or screen material and are preferably open at one end and closed at the other, the open ends of the ducts 22 communicating through the walls of the casing with the rooms 15 and 15* and the open ends of the ducts 23 communicating through the partitions 24 with the air chambers 20 and 21.

A flooring 39 separates the room 15 from the room 15" bridging the space between the outer walls of the casing and the inner walls of the building structure. This flooring is preferably located substantially on a level with the transverse partition 31. For convenience I also preferably extend this flooring substantially the same level across the other section of the building structiu'e to form a horizontal division between the rooms 14 and 14 (Figures 2, 3, 6). This flooring is preferably made in the form of a grating, permitting dust that settles on the flooring in the room 15 to pass through the same as hereinafter described.

In the outer walls of the room 15-1 preferably provide windows or openings having slats'29 which may be opened to permit the passage of air therethrough (see Figure 6) or may be closed to prevent such passage. Similar openings having slats may be provided for the room 15 and having slats 57 for the room 14 and slats 56 for the room I may also provide a slatted flooring 39 extending across the upper part of the room 15, and I may provide an opening having a slat 29" in the wall of the building structure above this flooring. I also provide a fan 32, which is connected to the air chamber 21 by a suitable pipe connection 33 (Figures 1 and With the slats of the windows of the cooling chamber 15 open the desired amount. air-will be drawn by the fan 32 through the bodies of grain descending through the passages 19. IVith the arrange ment here shown the air from the room 15 will enter the ducts 23 and then pass through the grain to the ducts 22, and into the air chamber 21 from which it will be drawn through the pipe 33 into the casing of the fan 32. The air from the room 15 will be cool or unheated and it will act to cool the grain if the same has been previously heated in the upper portion of the casing, as hereinafter described, and as this air passes through the grain it will take up and carry through into the chamber and to the fan the dust and light material that is in the body of grain.

Above the drying roomsor in any other convenient place I arrange a collector 34 which may be of any preferred type suitable to separateand collect the dust and refuse matter from dust laden air currents'and let the purified airescape. I have shown a collector of the so called cyclone type, in

which the dust laden air is blown tangentially into a vertical cylinder and conical chamber near the top thereof through a horizontal inlet pipe A vertical pipe 36, through which the dust laden air from the cooler is elevated to the collector, is connected to the outlet 37 from the fan 32 and to the inlet pipe to the collector. In the cyclone type of collector, the purified air escapes through an opening in the top of the collector and the dust and refuse is collected in the bottom of the (one and is conducted away through a restricted opening or pipe to any suitable destination.

I have here shown a separate fan 26 located in the room 14 and connected by a pipe 28 extending through the upright wall of the casing 13 and connecting with the air chamber 20 in the upper part of the casing (Figures 1, 2, 3). I prefer to provide suitable heating coils 27 arranged in the conductor 28 which may be enlarged to form a heating chamber, so that air from the fan 26 will be suitably heated and then forced intoand through the air chamber 20 and outward through the grain extending through the passages 19 into the chamber 15. The passage of this air through the grain will not only heat the grain but it will re move a considerable portion of the dus therefrom which will. pass outward through the duct openings into the chamber 15. If the slats of the windows are open a part of this dust-will escape into the outer air through the window, the greater part of it, however, will settle on the slatted floor 39. By clos ing the slats of the windows all of the dust that is blown through the heater may be confined within the room 15, or these windows may be opened to a greater or less extent so as to permit the escape of a part of the air and a part of it may be permitted to escape through the slatted partition 39 and the windows 29.

In order also to gather and collect the relatively lesser amount of' dust released from the drier. I provide the grated floor 39 between the drier and cooler surrounding the grain chamber and reaching to the walls 10 and 11 of the building as hereinbefore stated. Below the grated floor in the room 15 I arrange hoppers 40 between the walls and grain chambers thereby closing the floor from passing air currents through the grates between the drying and cooling rooms The hoppers 40 terminate in spouts or pipes 41 and these pipes are connected to trunk pipes 42 leading to the inlet of the fan 32. I prefer for efficiency reasons to connect these trunk pipes by elbows 43 to an inlet in: the side of the fan 32 opposite to that of the inlet pipe It will be seen that any dust given off from the drier by the air currents in the room'15 and settling to the floor will gravitate through the grethigte the bottoni er the hoppers 40 and will be drawn by suction through the pipes 422 to the fail 3'2, fiOm Whi'h it Will he C011- ducted t the COlleCtOr 34. I- also Pi'fi t0 connect one or more short depending pipes 4 4 to one or both of the trunk pipes 42.

Funnels 45 are provided at the lower ends of these pipes near the floor, into which may be swept refuse matter that may be deposited on the floor; and the suction from the fan 32 will carry such matter through the ten to the collector 34. A pipe 46 is also shown connected to the inlet of the fan 32 at 47 and runs below the floor 12 where it is connected to a conical hood 49 arranged over a belt conveyor spout or other means of openl conveying grain for the purpose of collecting any dust that may be given o-fi" at this point, This belt conveyor is omitted from the drawings as it forms no part of the present invention. The two time 26 and are preferably mounted on the same shaft 51 in difi'erent housings and driven by a motor 52 through a single belt 53, a motor pullej; 54 and a fan shaft pulley 55. Outside air to the drying fan 26 is drawn through the WiI idOWS' 56 in the lOOIIl 14 and through the grating and windows 57 in the room 14, and after passing through the heating chamber 28 and drier in the manner' above described,is exhausted through the upper windows: 29 in the rooin 15.

I prefer to provide a getting new 39 above the room and below the hopper and in the walls 10 and above this floor, windows 29 are arranged, through which some of the exhaust air from the drier may escape, passing up through the open grates in the floor.

It is obvious from the above that no dust or light refuse can gather at any place in the drier building or rooms, but that all this matter given off in the process of drying the grain will be concentrated by the cooler at and delivered with the cooling air to the eolleetor 34', from whence it may be disposed of in any suitable manner.

While I have shown the casing of the grain drier and cooler provided with two grain passages, with the air' chambers arranged between said passages, I do not limit myself to any articular number of such passages as a single grain passage or more than two canbe emplo ed without departing f om my invention.

I claim as Iny inr'ention:

1. In a grain drier and cooler, the combination with an upriglit casing provided with upper and lower interior air chatehers, and grain assages between the Walls of the easin end the air chambers, the walls of said casing and the. walls of the ir chambers being provided with ducts leading throu h the grain passages, meats fdi fdiGiIig' heated air 'iI'itO i'jli air Chamber and permitting the same to pass outward through the descending body of grain, means for drawing cooling air through the desceiiding rain into the lower air chamber, and ineans for collecting dust taken out of the grain by the passing ouri'ents of air.

2.. In a grain drier and cooler, the combination with an upright easing provided with an interior air chamber and grain passages between the walls of the Casing and the air chamber the walls of said casing and the walls of the air chamber being provided with ducts leading through the grain passages, means for heating the grain as it descends in the upper portion of the grain passages and means for circulating cooling air through grain in the lower portion of the grain passages and through the ducts in the walls of the casing and air chamber, and means for collecting dust taken out of the grain by the passing currents of air.

3. Ina grain drier and cooler, the combination with an upright casing provided with an interior air chamber and grain pas sages between the walls of the casing and the air Chamber, the walls of said casing and the walls of the air chamber being provided with ducts leading through the grain passages, means for circulating heated air through the grain in the upper part of the grain passages and through the ducts in the walls of the easing and air chamber, and means for colleetii'ig'r dust taken out of the grain by the passing Currents of air.

4;. In a grain drier and cooler, the coinbination with an upright easing pIOViCld with an interior air chamber and grain passages between the walls of the casing and the air chamber, the walls of said Casing and the walls of the air chamber being provided with ducts leading through the grain passages, means for circulating cooling air through the grain in the grain passages and through the ducts in the walls of thee-tie ing and air ehamben and means for eolleeting dust taken out of the rain by the passing currents of air.

5; In a grain drier and cooler, the coinbination with an upright casing pro'videc'l with an interior air chamber and grain passages between the Walls (if the CfiSilig" Hid the air chamber, the walls of said easing and the walls of the air chamber being provided with ducts leading throiigh the grain passag-es, means for cireulating heated air 'threiigh the descending body in the upper art of the grain passages. means for @61- leetiiig dust taken out of the grain by the passing currents of air, and hie-ans for" cooling the descending body of grain in the lower part of the grain assages.

6. In a grain drier and cooler the eqm hinetioe with upright easing provided with upper and lower interior air chambers and grain passages between the walls of the casing and the air chambers, the walls of said casing and the walls of the air chambers being provided with ducts leading through the grain passages, means for circulating heated air through the grain in the upper portionof the grain passages and through the ducts in the upper air chamher and the corresponding ducts in the easing, and means for circulating cooling air through the descending grain in the lower part of the grain passages and through the ducts in the lower air chamber and the corresponding ducts in the walls of the casing.

7. In a grain drier and cooler, the cinr bination with an upright casing, upper and lower rooms enclosing said casing. upper and lower interior air chambers within said casing, and grain passages arranged be tween the walls of the casing and the air chamber, the walls of said casing and the walls of the air chambers being provided with ducts leading through the grain passages, means for circulating heated air through the grain in the upper portion ot the grain passages and through said upper air chamber and said upper room, means for circulating cooling air through the lower portion of the grain passages and through the lower room and lower air chamber, and means for collecting the dust taken out of the grain by the air currents.

8. In a grain drier and cooler, the combination with an upright casing provided with an air chamber and grain passages between the walls of the casing and the air chamber, groups of ducts opening through the walls of the casing into said grain passages and other groups of ducts opening through thewalls of the air chamber into said grain passages, a room enclosing said casing, means for circulating air through said ducts and through the grain in said grain passages, and means for collecting the dust taken out of the grain by the air currents.

9. In a. grain drier and cooler, the combination with means for passing heated air through the drier, of means for passing cooling air through the cooler and conducting said air to a collector, a grain discharge opening from said cooler and means for conducting air fromsaid discharge opening. to said collector.

10. In a grain drier and cooler, the combination with a fan for forcing heated air through said drier, of an independent fan for drawing cooling air through said cooler, a collector, and means for conducting the cooling air from said independent fan to said collector.

11. In agrain drier and cooler. the combination with means for forcing heated air through said drier, a room surrounding said drier, a grated floor arranged in said room, hoppers arranged underneath said floor and communicating with said room through said grated floor, a collector and suction means for drawing air from said room through said hoppers and delivering said air to said collector.

12. An apparatus of the class described having drying and cooling rooms and a grain drier and cooler arranged therein and provided with vertical grain passages sepa ratedby upper and lower air chambers, said passages having a series of ducts or openings, one group of ducts or openings being open to the drying and cooling rooms and closed to the air chambers, and the other group of ducts or openings being closed to the drying and cooling rooms and open to the air chambers, means for passing heated air through the drying chamber and cooling air through the cooling chamber and means for collecting the dust taken out of the grain by the air currents.

13. An apparatus of the class described having drying and cooling rooms and a grain dryer and cooler arranged therein and provided with vertical grain passages separated by an upper air chamber and a lower air chamber, said passages having a series of duct-s or openings, one group of ducts or openings being open to the drying and cooling rooms and closed to the air chambers, and the other group of ducts or openings being closed to the drying and cooling rooms and open to the air chambers, means for passing heated air through the drying chamber and cooling air through the cooling chamber and through said ducts or openings, and means for collecting the dust taken out of the grain by the air currents.

l4. An apparatus of the class described having drying and cooling rooms and a grain drier and cooler mounted therein provided with vertical grain passages, and upper and lower air chambers and groups or ducts or openings arranged in said grain passages and communicating respectively with said room and said air chambers, means for passing heated air through said drying room and cooling air through said cooling room, means for separating said air chambers, a fan connected with said cooling room and means for collecting the dust taken out of the grain by the air currents.

15. An apparatus of the class described having drying and cooling rooms and a grain drier and a cooler mounted therein provided with vertical grain passages and upper and lower air chambers and ducts or openings in its passages communicating respectively with said rooms and chambers, a floor having openings therein interposed between the dryer and cooler, a hopper arranged below said floor in said cooling room, a fan for creating downward currents of air through said hopper, and a dust collector connected with said fan.

16. In a grain drier and cooler, the combination with means for passing heated air through the drier and means for passinga separate current of cool air through the cooler, of means for separating from the air and collecting the dust taken out of the air by the air currents.

17 A grain drier and cooler comprising an upright casing, a grain passage extending through said casing, means for passing heated air through the grain in the upper portion of said air passage, means for passing cooling air through the grain in the lower part of said air passage, and means for separating from the air and collecting the dust taken out of the grain by said air currents.

18. A grain drier and cooler comprising an upright casing, a grain passage extending through said casing, means for passing separate currents of air through the grain in the upper and lower portions of said grain passage, means for heating the air passing through the upper portion of the grain passage and means for separating from the air and collecting the dust taken out of the grain by the air currents.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of September 1921.

PHILIP LITTLE, J n. 

